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2024 UMFF Opening Gala
Performances, Certification Presentation, International Movie stars, Food & Drinks,
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Time: 7:00-9:30PM; June 14, 2024
Location: McTaggart Hall in Fred Hesse Park (29301 Hawthorne Blvd, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275); Admission by Opening Nigh Gala Pass
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The Performning Actors
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Bill Houskeeper, Actor, Host
Bill is an award winning actor with many films under his belt and is slated for many upcoming projects. You can find him in the soon to be released film A Soldiers Secret and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Sawyer Massacre. Bill has just finished filming the star role in the mafia film Contention that will be released early next year.
Bill is currently working on his next horror thriller film The Straw Girl, and from there he will be playing Lonnie in The Sunshine Girl, where he will be traveling to one of his favorite areas in the U.S.A., the Rocky Mountains. (Bill grew up in Utah in the heart of the Rockies.) He is honored to have been invited to host this amazing 2023 UMFF event and looking forward to seeing all of the talent. Bill has always enjoyed traveling the world and learning about other cultures and heritages and has been very fortunate to travel the world in his passion for adventure and exploring new experiences. |
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Eligia Gonzalez, Co-Host
Eligia is the media director for Maeya Culture Exchange Group and is an aspiring actress and director. Growing up Mexican-American she knew the importance of telling diverse stories that cross boundaries and therefore has been involved in over 10 years of theatre- performing in countless dance, choir, and drama productions. She has now shifted her focus to cinema where she aids multiple film festivals and productions. Possessing a B.A. in International Studies and a French minor from Cal State University Long Beach, she is always looking to collaborate with other artists who share her love of film. |
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LEON JONES, National Anthem Singer
Leon started performing as far back as grade school at the age of 9 years old in school plays. His journey has taken him to places like Long Island, N.Y. working with the likes of entertainers such as James Brown, Whitney Houston, Rob Base and a host of famous Reggae artists. In the early 90's in North Carolina he opened a small music studio to help keep local kids out of gangs by giving them a place to focus on their talents. Leon has performed in other countries such as Hong Kong and Mexico. Currently living in the Los Angeles, CA. area he has performed at weddings, various night clubs and fashion shows. Leon is frequently seen performing at events such as the Wind International Film Festival, Universe Multicultural Film Festival, LANFA International Music and Dance Festival, Passion Vista Global Icon Awards, Lucky Strike Film Festival, NAACP events honoring the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and GC Entertainment talent shows. He has received many awards for singing and is currently waiting to release his third New Old School album in the summer of 2022 |
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World sunshine Women United Association
It is a woman club that promotes love and uplifting for life. They practice traditional dances, fashion shows, talent contest, also do charity works in local community |
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Fred Astaire Dance Studios\Redondo Beach
Our team consists of world class instructors. We are very international group , as all of us come from different countries.
Ballroom dance is our passion, our career, our lifestyle.Our mission is to enrich and transform people's lives , help them to make positive changes, find their passion, overcome life challenges, lose weight, find balance, gain self confidence, improve social skills-all through movement and music. |
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Sherwood Jones; Writer/Producer
Sherwood started making films at age 11, armed with a Super 8 movie camera. In his preteens, he dove into an intense study of film, which lead to a B.A. in Cinema & Photography from Southern Illinois University and a Master of Fine Arts in Film from Ohio University, where his thesis film won an award in the Student Academy Awards competition. He entered the film industry as an editor, and has served in that capacity on 20 feature films. He has also been Post Production Supervisor on 25 features. He continues to write and direct his own personal film projects. He has been chairman of San Diego International Kids’ Film Festival since 2013 |
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Ballet Folklórico Almitas Mexicanas, Lomita
Ballet Folklórico Almitas Mexicanas based on the Southbay established in 2023. Founded by Nancy Hamilton, a current Fusion Academy teacher and culture lover. It share and promote our rich Mexican Folklore dance by teaching ages from three to twelve and the special needs community. It believes in union, culture and passion, with a mission is to keep our tradition alive and share our rich roots. It’s perform with great joy, effort and admiration |
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